
Absolute top site, this...
Absolute top site, this...
Eastern arc looking very approx north.
Northern arc.......
Approx southern arc.......
Eastern arc... looking south(ish)
Upon the lightly wooded northern arc...
The Citizen Cairn admits to being gob-smacked at the scope of this Bronze Age enclosure... having shopped at Chelmsford countless times, yet never venturing here before. South-western arc looking very approx north to the industrial estate... and site of cursus.
Open Source Environment agency LIDAR
Visitors might have to stop, pinch themselves and note that... yes... this is indeed Essex.
pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=879402
A circular enclosure c60m in diameter was examined. Pottery and bronze metal-working moulds from the primary ditch silts indicate a Late Bronze Age date. Later features include a Saxon cremation and inhumation cemetery and Saxon or later post-hole building. (1)
Further grass and cremations were located bringing the total of burials to c150. One of the inhumations was enclosed by a small ring-ditch. Four more Saxon buildings were identified, belonging to at least two phases, together with a number of pits and other features. (2)
Excavation of a circular cropmark enclosure at Springfield, confirmed a Late Bronze Age date for the enclosure. The interior of the enclosure was totally excavated, providing a good plan of all features which had survived subsequent activity at the site. Late Bronze Age features included several post-hole structures, and the post-holes of the revetment for an internal bank. Also located were features and finds of Neolithic/Early Bronze Age and Roman date, an Early Saxon cemetery and a Late Saxon settlement. (3)
Nice page by the local council about the site includes maps, what to expect and find pictures.